Coasters, those humble objects used to place under hot cups of tea, have inspired Wanganui artists who have a group show this weekend.
West Coasters, which opens on Friday night at the Federal Gallery and runs until the end of Sunday, has been organised by Vanessa Edwards and Graham Hall.
"Everyone hasto work on coasters, reinterpret coasters or reference coasters," Edwards said .
"Some people are inspired by the idea of home. Others just ran with the whole coaster idea."
All the work will be for sale, and will be affordable and accessible.
Artists who will be contributing are Edwards and Hall, Stacey Hildreth, Rachael Garland, Nichola McMullen, Catherine Sleyer, Kaye Wooding, Helen Manning and Karen Ellett.
But Edwards thinks there will be more on the day.
She graduated from Whanganui UCOL in 2002, with a BFA majoring in printmaking. Since then, she's maintained a studio in the old Chronicle building, trained as a teacher and is now teaching art at Wanganui High School.
She and Hall have already had a similar show entitled One Night Stand. It featured 19 Wanganui artists, had no particular theme and was up for just one night.
They also have a blog of the same name.
Edwards said she and Hall aimed to get shows happening.
All artists wanted to show their work, but none wanted to sit with the exhibitions, she said.
"It's really just to get local artists to become aware that there are opportunities to have shows locally, and get the community in as well.
"A lot of the artists are showing all the time, but not in Wanganui."
West Coasters will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, and 10am to noon on Sunday.